Republican Party chairman Michael Steele told Republican National Committee staff to immediately put an end to providing RNC employees with insurance for elective abortions. After learning of the abortion coverage from a news report, late Thursday evening Steele issued a statement:

"Money from our loyal donors should not be used for this purpose. I don't know why this policy existed in the past, but it will not exist under my administration. Consider this issue settled."

According to RNC spokeswoman Gail Gitcho, Steele then instructed staff to let their insurance carrier know that the RNC wished to opt out of the elective abortion coverage. Gitcho said the policy had been in effect since 1991.

Traditionally, the GOP platform includes strong anti-abortion language. In a recent vote, all House Republicans, except for one, voted for an amendment that would impose restrictions of coverage for abortions in the health care bill passed by the House last Saturday.

Inclusion of abortion restrictions prompted backlash from liberal House Democrats, who are threatening to vote against a final bill if the restrictions are included.

It was discovered that RNC policy covered abortion when the RNC received all call from a reporter on Wednesday inquiring whether their health policy through Cigna covered elective abortions for employees. Politico.com published a report on Thursday citing two sales agents for Cigna that said the RNC's policy covered elective abortion. Cigna employees stated that the RNC did not choose to opt out of abortion coverage when they were given the opportunity.